Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
Well, last night was the kick-off for the new challenge. An introduction to the coaches, their teams, their successes, and their enthusiasm to help motivate and help us in our quest to complete this challenge. There are three teams. Planners: who spend the first month laying the groundwork, so that when March hits, they can hit the ground running with presumably less obstacles. Pantser: (me) fly by the seat of my pants, put the story on paper, organize and edit mistakes when completed. Plantser: a combination of both the above. A little bit of planning, a little bit of chaos, a whole lot of finished product. All three coaches are in different time zones, with diverse personalities, and similar successes; however, they all share the same goal- to mentor us in completing our projects with real-world experience.
I would equate this challenge to finding a good church home. A lot of people who walk away from or refuse to enter a church are because they view the church as hypocritical. To be fair, we are…but not because we are after anything from you, but because we are sinners also. We are not perfect; therefore, we make mistakes and sin just like everyone else. In today’s society, one mistake makes you untrustworthy. One mistake means you are a liar. One mistake tells me that I should isolate myself from you. One mistake is all it takes to be branded. And let me tell you, Satan is all over that one mistake.
All those who attend church have one goal, primarily, that is to go to heaven. No one wants hell. Yes, people joke about they are going to hell because of this or that, but hell is no joking matter. Hell is torment. Hell is anguish. Hell is reliving everything that you have done wrong over and over and over again. And don’t get me started about the lack of climate control.
In finding the proper church, you must find one that feels honest. One that welcomes you despite your sin. One that will hold you accountable without judging you (to the best of their human ability, that is). But also, in finding a church, you must find one that reads the Word, explains the Word without downplaying it, and will speak Truth to you while still loving you despite your mistakes.
Just as the three very different coaches in this challenge are there to answer my questions or encourage me to stay the course, the church also is filled with a diverse community that is there to help you navigate the hurt, the hate, the failure and to guide you to the path that truly leads to heaven.
If you have a problem with putting something together, you typically don’t just quit and toss it in the garbage. You work and work at it until you get it completed. It may take phone a friend. It may take reading the instructions. It may just take time to look at the piece and visualize how the puzzle goes together. But eventually, that project will be completed. It is no different in finding and accepting salvation, maintaining the course to heaven, and leading others. The first step to finding a good church is for me to quit judging what I know to be true about the people inside and leave that judgment to God. That is very difficult, because I have had a tendency to deflect my guilt to them and judge them … that is no more godly than if they are truly judging me. Eye for an eye will not get you into heaven … loving your neighbor as God loves you … now that is journey key.
Today as you go about your normal routine, ask God to show you a church to visit. Put aside the lies that the enemy has been feeding you. Are there bad eggs in this basket, yes there are. Just as with anything in life. You cannot avoid them all; however, do allow their destiny to become yours. The church is filled with diverse individuals with the same goal, heaven. Will you join us?
**Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light. –Matthew 11:28-30
Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
Well, last night was the kick-off for the new challenge. An introduction to the coaches, their teams, their successes, and their enthusiasm to help motivate and help us in our quest to complete this challenge. There are three teams. Planners: who spend the first month laying the groundwork, so that when March hits, they can hit the ground running with presumably less obstacles. Pantser: (me) fly by the seat of my pants, put the story on paper, organize and edit mistakes when completed. Plantser: a combination of both the above. A little bit of planning, a little bit of chaos, a whole lot of finished product. All three coaches are in different time zones, with diverse personalities, and similar successes; however, they all share the same goal- to mentor us in completing our projects with real-world experience.
I would equate this challenge to finding a good church home. A lot of people who walk away from or refuse to enter a church are because they view the church as hypocritical. To be fair, we are…but not because we are after anything from you, but because we are sinners also. We are not perfect; therefore, we make mistakes and sin just like everyone else. In today’s society, one mistake makes you untrustworthy. One mistake means you are a liar. One mistake tells me that I should isolate myself from you. One mistake is all it takes to be branded. And let me tell you, Satan is all over that one mistake.
All those who attend church have one goal, primarily, that is to go to heaven. No one wants hell. Yes, people joke about they are going to hell because of this or that, but hell is no joking matter. Hell is torment. Hell is anguish. Hell is reliving everything that you have done wrong over and over and over again. And don’t get me started about the lack of climate control.
In finding the proper church, you must find one that feels honest. One that welcomes you despite your sin. One that will hold you accountable without judging you (to the best of their human ability, that is). But also, in finding a church, you must find one that reads the Word, explains the Word without downplaying it, and will speak Truth to you while still loving you despite your mistakes.
Just as the three very different coaches in this challenge are there to answer my questions or encourage me to stay the course, the church also is filled with a diverse community that is there to help you navigate the hurt, the hate, the failure and to guide you to the path that truly leads to heaven.
If you have a problem with putting something together, you typically don’t just quit and toss it in the garbage. You work and work at it until you get it completed. It may take phone a friend. It may take reading the instructions. It may just take time to look at the piece and visualize how the puzzle goes together. But eventually, that project will be completed. It is no different in finding and accepting salvation, maintaining the course to heaven, and leading others. The first step to finding a good church is for me to quit judging what I know to be true about the people inside and leave that judgment to God. That is very difficult, because I have had a tendency to deflect my guilt to them and judge them … that is no more godly than if they are truly judging me. Eye for an eye will not get you into heaven … loving your neighbor as God loves you … now that is journey key.
Today as you go about your normal routine, ask God to show you a church to visit. Put aside the lies that the enemy has been feeding you. Are there bad eggs in this basket, yes there are. Just as with anything in life. You cannot avoid them all; however, do allow their destiny to become yours. The church is filled with diverse individuals with the same goal, heaven. Will you join us?
**Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light. –Matthew 11:28-30
Arabic
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek
ΰ€Ήΰ€Ώΰ€¨ΰ₯ΰ€¦ΰ₯